Challenges and adaptations of dental students post-COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study in an Indian Dental Institution

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The transition from online learning methods to the traditional offline mode of education post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought several challenges for dental students. The present study aimed to investigate the hardships and adaptations experienced by dental students while shifting back to an offline mode of education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey-based questionnaire was distributed among 160 Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students and the feedback of about 102 students was recorded. RESULTS: The study yielded a response rate of 63.7% comprising of females (66.7%) and males (33.3%) respondents. The participants were categorized among two different age groups including students below 22 years of age and students equal to or above 22 years of age. The majority of the females (67.6%) are found to be more fearful of exposure to infection while working with patients in clinics compared with males (44.1%; P = 0.022). The students (≥22 years of age; 76.3%) found more difficulty in convincing their patients to get the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test done before proceeding with the clinical procedure than the students (<22 years of age; 48.8%; P = 0.004). Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) third year (61.8%), fourth-year (62.5%), 2018 batch interns (88.9%), and 2019 batch interns (94.1%) students experienced difficulty in wearing personal protective equipment all the time while working in clinics (P = 0.011). The maximum number of students (79.4%) still prefer writing over typing comprising a greater number of females (85.3%) than males (67.6%; P = 0.038). Male students (70.6%) are found less anxious about COVID-19 infection while staying in a hostel/paying guests compared with female students (45.6%; P =0.017). The majority of the students (95.1%) including more females (98.5%) compared with males (88.2%) follow proper sterilization procedures while working in clinics (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Dental students have faced various difficulties post-COVID-19 lockdown, particularly in the field of clinical practice while shifting back to offline mode of education.